Anybody had a hip replaced?

[wdfifteen]

Talked to my PCP this morning. Xrays show "significant" arthritis in lumbar spine and hips. Hips look like candidates for replacement. The doc says to work on the back first, but the prospect of having my hip joints replaced makes me nervous. I don't know what they might do to my back, so that doesn't bother me - ignorance is bliss they say.
Aging sucks.

[id10t]

Been through a few hundred THAs and back procedures... from the other side. Worked as a PT aide in a critical care place.

Much rather have my hip replaced than my back worked on.

Just start PT a month or two before, learn and do the various strengthening exercises they'll have you do post-op, and do whatever your PT tells you to do. Ideally you'll have the nursing staff complaining that you like to get up and walk too much.

[herr_oberst]

I did. I'm pain free now for a whole year, and I wish I would have done it a few years ago instead of trying to limp along hoping to find a different answer.

[Brian 162]

My neighbor had her hip replaced last year due to arthritis. She had day surgery and was home the same day. It was a non invasive hip replacement. Three weeks after the surgery you wouldn't have known she had surgery. She was jumping around like a 10 year old. At the time she was 62.

[wildthing]

My father did not want his hip replaced when his doctor told him it was time...

Now he is immobile and no longer fit for surgery. If ever that time comes and it gives me the option to continue the same quality of life for another 20 years, I would go for it.

[strupgolf]

The last few weeks I've felt soreness in my right butt cheek, lower portion. What could that be. It's hard to put a sock on that foot. Help.

[red-beard]

One of my neighbors had it done 11 years ago at 42...

I would suggest sooner rather than later. And he had it done "reverse". There is a doctor here in Houston that pioneered going in from the back side and has a way of getting the muscles out of the way, minimizing the recovery. I can inquire if you like. Same doctor did my father's knee replacements.

[GH85Carrera]

I did it. Dumbest thing I ever did was to wait. Smartest thing was to do it!

My doc said he would not tell me when I needed it. He said I would tell him. He was right. During surgery he said I had only blood as a lubricant. Nothing else.

[smadsen]

I had the left hip replaced 7/20/18 after I fell and broke it. Tripped in a parking lot on a Friday. Replacement Saturday AM. Took two laps around the ward with a walker Saturday PM. Home Sunday. Used a walker for about a week, then less and less. Back on my bicycle for an easy ride in week 3. I did therapy at home to start for two weeks, graduated to a clinic for a few weeks after that. All in all I wouldn't expect more than a few days of mild discomfort.

The procedure was a anterior approach. I only have about a four inch incision which heals quickly compared to other, older versions. As others have said, do it sooner rather than later.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Talked to my PCP this morning. Xrays show "significant" arthritis in lumbar spine and hips. Hips look like candidates for replacement. The doc says to work on the back first, but the prospect of having my hip joints replaced makes me nervous. I don't know what they might do to my back, so that doesn't bother me - ignorance is bliss they say.
Aging sucks.

I'm going to get my right hip done within the next year. It's down to when it is convenient for me. My surgeon tells me it's rather non-invasive, if I get it done soon enough. When he found out I'm a car guy (he is as well), he likened it, at my current stage of degradation, to re-plating a set of nickasil cylinders. If I let it go, it's more like reboring oversize and fitting new pistons. If I do it soon enough, it is orthoscopic day surgery with minimal recovery time afterwards. Just shaving a layer off of the ball, and of the socket, off and then shooting in some form of coating to cover each individually. Essentially "replating" the wear surfaces. If I let it go beyond those "wear limits", it turns into "real" surgery, digging out and replacing both the ball and the socket. When related in those terms, I think I prefer the former. "Git 'er done"...

[Tobra]

don't get back surgery

[island911]

good advice^

I read something like "Hip replacements are the most satisfying elective surgery" ... most people, like herr-oberst said, say: I should have done this sooner.
The implant takes away the pain, typically makes you taller (puts you back to the height you had when you had cartridge in the joint) but will give a less cushioned joint than OE. Also, range of motion may be limited, depending on tech used.

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I'm going to get my right hip done within the next year. It's down to when it is convenient for me. My surgeon tells me it's rather non-invasive, if I get it done soon enough. When he found out I'm a car guy (he is as well), he likened it, at my current stage of degradation, to re-plating a set of nickasil cylinders. If I let it go, it's more like reboring oversize and fitting new pistons. If I do it soon enough, it is orthoscopic day surgery with minimal recovery time afterwards. Just shaving a layer off of the ball, and of the socket, off and then shooting in some form of coating to cover each individually. Essentially "replating" the wear surfaces. If I let it go beyond those "wear limits", it turns into "real" surgery, digging out and replacing both the ball and the socket. When related in those terms, I think I prefer the former. "Git 'er done"...

Sounds like you have a great doc, Jeff!

Funny how so many of us air-cooled guys are of a certain age are in need of extensive maintenance and/or restoration, just like our cars.

[KFC911]

But what if yer not hip...and ain't never been hip? Can ya just become artificially hip?

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by Tobra

don't get back surgery

Just curious Tobra why you say that. I was just talking on the phone to my sister in the UK. Her husband had a knee replaced and now is walking with a cane and is waiting for back surgery. Apparently he has some enlarged vertebra which need to be operated on.
Can you enlighten me? What is the downside?
Thanks Tobra!

[Seahawk]

Had the left hip done a few years ago, right will be done later this year.

All positive: Minimal invasive technique and I was home the same day. Started PT day three.

The only thing I will do differently for the right hip is rent a hospital bed, which insurance will cover....$300 or so for a month with set-up, delivery, etc. You won't need it for more than a week but it will be worth it.

If you take the pain meds, take a laxative as well. I did not at first and was backed up like the 405 at rush hour.

[expatriot98]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Just curious Tobra why you say that. I was just talking on the phone to my sister in the UK. Her husband had a knee replaced and now is walking with a cane and is waiting for back surgery. Apparently he has some enlarged vertebra which need to be operated on.
Can you enlighten me? What is the downside?
Thanks Tobra!

My .02 - Back surgeries are about 50% effective. Even if it is initially, the shock of movement is transferred to other joints which will need work in the future. Back surgery is a big money maker for Docs. If you're going to do it, make absolutely certain of the doc's reputation.

12 years ago, I started having back issues that became debilitating. Went to an Ortho - neurosurgeon who found I had 4 bad discs along with a list of other issues. He said he could operate by putting rods on either side of spine. A second opinion held same answer. Neither encouraged it. The second guy advised starting a high daily dose of a good quality fish oil.

Some time later I had a recommendation to see a 70 year old ortho. The first thing he asked before he even said hello was "Have you had back surgery?" I said no and he told me that was the worst thing I could have done. He sent me to a chiro that used decompression and other methods. After about six months of the fish oil and chiro I was back to being functional. I still have an occasional flare ups, but nothing like the original problems.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Had the left hip done a few years ago, right will be done later this year.

All positive: Minimal invasive technique and I was home the same day. Started PT day three.

The only thing I will do differently for the right hip is rent a hospital bed, which insurance will cover....$300 or so for a month with set-up, delivery, etc. You won't need it for more than a week but it will be worth it.

If you take the pain meds, take a laxative as well. I did not at first and was backed up like the 405 at rush hour.

This! I knew right away things were stopped up. I had an allergic reaction to the Lovenox (blood thinner) they used in the operation. That caused other issues so I was in the hospital longer than normal. I kept asking for laxatives and I guess they gave me something for a little kid. Every day I asked for more. If I ever have surgery again, I will be looking for some colonoscopy level laxatives. I don't even want to have to give birth to a Louisville Slugger again.

[Mike Andrew]

Just spent a week fishing with a rugby team mate who suffered for several years with a hip. He tried about every holistic "solution" known to man and had stem injections(at his expense), Man, it hurt me to watch him walk/limp around. Eventually stressed his back as well and he had had enough.
His doc did the reverse entry with a hip that has replaceable parts so he should never need another replacement. Man, he is like my buddy of old less the running. No pain, walks every day, can do about anything he wants again. His take is that he should have done it a lot sooner.
Good luck if you go for it.

My ortho is another no vote on back surgery other than repairing damage from accidents and such. PT and pain management is his solution.

[arcsine]

I had one replaced a couple of years ago. Not due to arthritis but displasia which lead to me destroying the labrum. There was no relief from the pain/discomfort for years and could not walk far, let alone run. Had an anterior replacement done and was standing the same day. I walked out the next. I took no pain meds as it never hurt any worse than it did before the surgery. I'm expecting that I'll have to have it replaced again at some point as I am now 57 and back to being active. I did give up aikido this year as I just could not allow myself to be thrown to the ground anymore.